Ratchet mechanism



C. W. RIPSCH AND1. C. DAWLEYi RATCHET MECHANISM` APPLICATION min Au'G.25.1919.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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/0 INVENToRs CMI/nazis M /P/Pscf/ JMA-s c. .vamccy AT'TORNEYv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. RIPSCH AND JAMES C. DAWLEY, l DAYTON',4 OHIO, ASSIGNORS T0 THE JOYCE-CRIDLAND COlVIPAlYY,y OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

RATCHET MECHANISM. I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

Application filed August 25, 1919. Serial No. 319,642.

To all whom t may concern:

it known that we, CHARLES W'. RrrsoH and ill-mins C. DAwLnY, citizens of the United eltates, residing at Dayton, in the county of lvfontgomery and Statefof Ohio, have in 'vented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet Mechanism, 'of which the following is a specification, reference being had. therein to the accompanying drawing. n

rifhis invention relates to ratchet mechanism and designed more particularly as a line toothed ratchet operating device for lifting jacks and the like.

The obj ect of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this kind. in which the operating lever will have a small angular movement and which will be simple in construction, of a strong, durable character, and positive in its operation.

is also an object of the invention to provide mechanism of this kind in which the pawl can automtically center. itself with rel tion to the teeth of the ratchet wheel, thus insuring that each tooth of the pawl will have a full bearing upon the corresponding tooth of the ratchet wheel.

it is also an object the invention to provide mechanism of this kind with an auX- iliary pawl to actuate the ratchet wheel in a lirection to lower the lifting element of the and to so construct and arrange such auxiliary pawl that it will be auto- .atically moved into an inoperative position when the operating mechanism is moved in a direction to cause the' main pawl to entho ratchet wheel.

'Other obiccts of the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure l l" 7ation of a lifting jack embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a front elemtion ofthe saine, partly in section; Fig. 3 Yis a plan view of the ratchet mechanism; Fig. 4L a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of lflg. Y, g ifi is a sectional view taken on the ,-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4c, looking in the direction of the arrows; and `Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view of the auxiliary pawl.

In these drawings we have illustrated one embodiment of our invention and have shown the same as applied to a lifting `iack of a well known construction. It will be understood, however, kthat this particular jack has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that the invention cannot onlyk be embodied in jacks of various kinds, but may also be applied to other devices where such a mechanism may be useful.

The jack here illustrated comprises a base l having an upwardly extending portion or hollow standard 2, in the upper end of is a beveled gear 7, which meshes with a corresponding beveledgear 8 carried by a shaft 9, which is journaled in bearings carried by a laterally extending portion of the housing 6. This shaft 9 extends beyond the housing and has mounted thereon ratchet mechanism by means of which rotary movementis imparted to the shaft 9.

Rig-idly secured to the projecting end of the shaft 9 is a ratchet wheel l0 having relatively small teeth, and these teeth are, in the present instance, shown as radial teeth. An operating lever is pivotally mounted on the shaft 9 and carries a plunger or pawl, which operatively engages the ratchet rwheel 10. A In the present ilhistrrdion` we have shown only the socket member 11 of the lever, which is adapted to receive a spike or bar, as is customaryv with jacks of this kind.

The lever sockety il is here shown as bifurcated'to embrace the ratchet wheel '10, and has the two arms of the bifurcation mounted on the shaft on the respective sides of the ratchet wheel. It will he apparent, however, that the lever may be mounted in any suitable manner so long itis movable about the axis of the ratchet wheel. Slidably mounted upon the lever ll is a plunger or pawl l2, having its forward end cut away1 to give it substantially' a wedge shape, and this wedge-shaped portion of the pawl is provided with a series of transverse teeth adapted to engage a 'corresponding member of the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The pawl is mounted ina guideway, which is soconstructed that when operative movement is imparted to the lever the pawl will be wedgeo between the wall of the guideway and the ratchet wheel, thus holding the teeth of the pawl firmly in engagementwith the rate iet wheel. Further, the pawl is so mounted that it may have a slight move ment about its longitudinal axis, thus enabling it to automatically adjust itself with relation to the ratchet wheel and cause all of its teeth to engage the corresponding teeth of the ratchet wheel with a full bearing, thereby preventing the injury to the teeth of the pawl and ratchet wheel which frequently results from an imperfect bearing between the teeth of these two parts. The guideway in which the pawl is mounted may take various forms, but it is preferabl.v made a part of the lever, and is here shown in the form of a tubular housing 1B, cast integral with the lever socket, extending lengthwise of the socket and so arranged that the pawl, when mounted therein, will have sliding movement tangentially to the ratchet wheel. is here shown the housing 18 is cylindrical in form and the rear por tion of the pawl 12 is circular in cross Section, so that it will fit in the housing and will be free to slide therein. The pawl has secured thereto a rearwardly extending pin or portion 1li, which projects through the rear wall of the housing. Coiled about the pin 141 and confined between the pawl and the end wall of the housing is a spring 15, which tends to move the pawl toward the ratchet wheel. Botatably mounted on the outer end of the pin 14 is a finger piece or knurled head 1G, by means of which the pawl will be retracted against the tension of the spr-ing. @ne side`of its head is of greater width than the other and when the pawl has been retracted, the head may be rotated to cause the wider portion thereof to engage a shoulder 17 on the lever socket 11 and thus lock the pawl in its retracted or inoperative position. A pin 1S arranged in the wall of the housing 13 extends into a longitudinal groove 19 formed in the side of the pawl 12 and serves to approximately center the pawl. However, this groove is of a width somewhat greater than the thickness of the pin and will permit the pawl to have suthcient movement about its longitudinal axis to accurateljf center the same and cause the teeth thereof to engage the corresponding teeth of the ratchet wheel throughout their lengths.

lt is desirable that means be provided whereby the ratchet wheel may be positively actuated ina reverse direction to lower the lifting element and any load that may be imposed thereon. This, of course, could be accomplished by duplicating the.pawl 12 either on the opposite side of the socket 11 or by providing a double pawl. However, we have, in the present instance, provided an auxiliary pawl, which is mounted entirely separate from the main pawl 12. As here shown this auxiliary pawl is in the form of a stud or pin 20, rotatably mounted in a socket 21 formed in the inner portion of the socket and having that side thereof, adjacent to the ratchet wheel, open. Ae shown in Vlfig. t, one side of the inner end of the stud 20 is cut away or flattened so that it will not project beyond the edge of the opening of the socket when it is in its normal position and, therefore, will not interfere with the movement of the ratchet wheel. The pawl, or stud, 20, is provided in its rear side with two recesses 22, either of which may receive a spring-pressed detent to hold the pawl irrits adjusted position. 'll he outer end of the stud is provided with a head 211, by means of which it may be ro tated to move the pawl into and out of its normal position, the detent 23 yielding under pressure to permit the movement of the pawl. l'Ve have also shown the head 24 of the stud as flattened on one side and adapted to engage a stop 25 on the outer surface of the lever socket, to limit the movement of the pawl in one direction and thus prevent the one edge thereof from being brought into engagement with the ratchet wheel. Then it is desired to impart reverse movement to the ratchet wheel the main pawl 12 is locked in its inoperative position and the auxiliary pawl 2O is rotated to cause the upper edge thereof to project from the socket 21 and to engage a tooth of the ratchet w reel, when upward movement is imparted to the lever.V

The arrangement of the pawl is such that upon the downward movement of the lever, the succeeding tooth of the ratchet wheel will engage the front surface of the pawl and force the same into its normal position to permit the teeth of the ratchet wheel to pass the saine. When the pawl is thus returned to its normal position, it will be held therein by the detent 23 and must be manually adjusted before it will again engage the ratchet wheel. By thus automatically returning the pawl to its locked normal position upon the downward movement of the lever, we make it impossible for the pawls to operate one against the other. It desired, a tooth, or projection, 26 may be formed on the upper part of the flat surface of the pawl to engage a lower tooth of the ratchet wheel and thus move the main tooth of the pawl into a completely inoperative position. lVhen such second tooth is em ployed, further clearance may be allowed between the pawl and the ratchet wheel when the former is in its inoperative position. It will be obvious that, if desired, the stop 25 may be eliminated and the lower portion of the pawl 20 caused to engage the ratchet wheel and rotate the same in a direction to elevate the lifting element, the pawl being provided with such teeth as might be desired.

lhile we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the details thereof, as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described our invention what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a device of the character described, a toothed wheel, an operating member mounted lor movement about the axis of said toothed wheel and having a guideway tangential to said wheel, a pawl slidably mounted in said guideway and having teeth to engage said toothed wheel, said pawl being so arranged that the movement of said operating member in one direction will cause said pawl to be gripped between said guideway and said toothed wheel with a wedging action, and said pawl also being capable of movement about a longitudinal axis to adjust its teeth with relation to the teeth of said toothed wheel.

2. In a device of the character described, a toothed wheel, an operating member mounted for movement about theI axis of said toothed wheel, and having a guideway tangential to said wheel, a pawl slidably mounted in said guideway to engage said toothed wheel and so arranged that the movement of said operating member in one direction will cause said pawl to be gripped between said guideway and said toothed wheel with a wedging action, said guideway having a curved surface to form a seat and said pawl having a curved portion to engage said seat, to enable said pawl to automatically adjust itself about a longitudinal axis.

3. In a device of the character described, a toothed wheel, an operating member mounted for movement about the axis of said toothed wheel, a housing carried by said operating member and having a curved wall, a pawl slidably mounted in said housing and so arranged that the movement of said operating member in one direction will cause said pawl to be gripped between said guideway and said. toothed wheel .with ya wedging action, said pawl having its sur- :tace curved to correspond with the curve ol' said housing and having teeth to engage said toothed wheel, and means to hold the teeth of said pawl in `yielding engagement with the teeth of said wheel.

il. In a fine toothed ratchet mechanism, a toothed wheel, an .operating member mounted for movement about the axis of said toothed wheel and having a guideway tangential to said wheel, a pawl having a wedge-shaped end portion provided with a plurality ot teeth to engage a corresponding toothed wheel,

plurality of teeth on said toothed wheel, said pawl being slidably mounted in said guideway and so arranged that the movement of said operating member in one direction will cause said pawl to be gripped between said wheel and said guideway with a wedging action, and said pawl being capable ot movement about a longitudinal axis to adjust its teeth with relation to the teeth of said toothed wheel.

5. In a iine toothed ratchet mechanism, a an operating member mounted for movement about the axis ot saidl toothed wheel and having a guideway tangential to said wheel, a pawl having a wedge-shaped end portion provided with a plurality of teeth to engage a corresponding plurality of teeth on said toothed wheel, said pawl being slidably mounted in said guideway and so arranged that the movement of said operating member in one direction will cause said pawl to be gripped between said wheel and said guideway with a wedging action, said guideway having a portion 01"' its wall curved ,about a longitudinal axis to form a seat, and said pawl having a curved portion to engage said seat, whereby said pawl may automatically adjust itself about a longitudinaly axis.

6. In a fine toothed ratchet mechanism, a toothed wheel, an operating member mounted for movement about the axis or' said toothed wheel and having a guideway tangential to said wheel, a pawl having a wedge-shaped end portion provided with a plurality of teeth to engage a corresponding plurality of teeth on said toothed wheel, said pawl being slidably mounted in said guideway and so arranged that the movement of said operating memberin one direction will cause said pawl to be gripped between said wheel and said guideway with a wedging action, said guideway having a portion of its wall curved about a longitudinal axis to form a seat, and said pawl having a curved portion to engage said seat, said guideway and said pawl having coperating parts to limit the movement ot' said pawl about a longitudinal axis without interfering with its longitudinal movement.

7. In a fine toothed ratchet mechanism, a toothed wheel, an operating member mounted for movement about the axis of said toothed wheel and having a guideway tangential to said wheel, a pawl having a wedge-shaped end portion provided with a plurality of teeth to engage a corresponding plurality of teeth on s aid toothed wheel, said pawl being slidably mounted in said guideway and so arranged that the movement of said operating member in one directionwill cause said pawl to be gripped between said wheel and said guideway with a wedging action, said guideway having a portion of its wall curved about a longitudinal axis to form a seat,`and said pavvl having a curved portion to engage said seat, and means to hold the teeth ot said pau/'l in yielding engagement with the teethfo' said Wheel.

8. ln a device of the character described, the combination With a toothed Wheel, and an ojieratii'ig member mounted for movement about the axis ot said toothed wheel, ot a housing carried by said operating member and having a curved wall, a paivl slidably mounted in said housing and having its surface curved to correspond to the curve ot said housing and having teeth to engage said toothed -azieel, one ot said parts having a longitudinal guideway, and a pin carried by the other oli said parts and extending through said guideivay, said pin being ot' a diameter less than the Width of said guideivay and serving to approximately center said pawl with relation to said toothed Wheel but to permit it to have a limited movement about a longitudinal axis.

9. ln a device ot the character described, a toothed Wheel, an operating member mounted 'for movement about the aXis of said toothed Wheel, a housing carried by said operating member and having a curved Wall, a pawl slidably mounted in said housing and having its surface curved to correspond to the curve oit said housing, and having teeth to engage said toothed Wheel, means to hold the teeth ot said paivl in yielding engagement with the teeth ot said Wheel, said pawl having a longitudinal groove, and a pin mounted in the Wall ot said housing and eX tending loosely into said groove to approximately center said paivl With relation to said toothed wheel, but to permit it to have a slight movement about a longitudinal axis.

lO. ln a device ot the character described, a toothed wheel, an operating member mounted for movement about the axis of said toothed Wheel, a housing carried by said operating member arranged tangentially to the toothed Wheel, a pavvl slidably mounted in said housing, having teeth to engage the teeth ot said Wheel and capable ot a limited movement about a longitudinal axis, a spring to hold said pawl in yielding engagement with said teeth, and means Jfor moving said pavvl into an inoperative position and locking it in that position.

l1. ln a device of the character described, a toothed Wheel, an operating member mounted tor movement about the airis of said toothed Wheel, a housing carried by said operating member, a payvl slidably mounted in said housing and having teeth to engage the teeth ot said Wheel, a spring to hold said paxvl in yielding engagement With said teeth, a pin secured to said paWl and projecting through the end Wall of said housino and a head rotatably mounted on said O7 v n pin, said operating member having a part adapted to be engaged by said head to hold said pavvl in its retracted position.

l2. ln a device oit the character described, a toothed Wheel, an oper: ting member inountd tor movement about the axis ot' said toothed wheel and having a guideway, a pawl slidably mounted in said guidevvay, and having teeth to engage said toothed Wheel to rotate the latter in one direction, and a normally inoperative auxiliary pawl to engage said toothed Wheel and rotate the same in the opposite direction.

ln a device ot the character described, a lever having a biturcateo end portion embracing said Wheel, a pavfl slidably mounted on said lever and having teeth to engage said toothed Wheel to rotate the latter inv one direction, a pmvl mounted in said lever' and having means Jfor moving the same into and out ot a position to engage the teeth of said Wheel, and a yieldable detent to retain said pand in its adjusted position.

le. ln a device of the character described, a toothed Wheel, a lever having a biturcated end portion embracing' said Wheel, a patvl slidably mounted on said lever and having teeth to engage the teeth oi' said Wheel, said lever having a recess opening into the space between the arms ot said bifurcation, a pawl rotatably mounted in said recess and having one side i'lat, meanstor rotating said pawl to cause it to lie Wholly Within said recess or project beyond the same, and a resilient device to hold said paivl in its adjusted position.

i5. in a device ot the character described, a toothed Wheel, a lever having a biturcated end portion embracing said Wheel, a paWl slidably mounted on said lever and having teeth to engage the teeth ot' said Wheel and rotate the latter in one direction, a second pawl mounted on said lever and adapted to be moved into the space between the arms of thevbit'urcated portion ot said lever and into the path or" the teeth of said Wheel, Twhereby, -when said lever is moved in one direction, the paivl will impart movement to the Wheel and when the lever is moved in the opposite direction the teeth of the Wheel will move said paivl to an inoperative position, and means for automatically securing said paWl in its inoperative position.

16. ln a device ot the character described, a toot-hed Wheel, a lever having a bifurcated end portion to embrace said Wheel, a housing termed integral with said lever and eXtending lengthwise thereof, a pavvl slidably mounted in said housing and having teeth to engage the teeth ot said Wheel, means to hold said pawl yieldingly in engagement with the teeth of said Wheel, said lever having recesses therein opening into a space between the arms of said biturcated end portion, a stud rotatably mounted in said recess and having one face iattened, so that when in CIW one position it will lie Wholly Within the recess and when in anothei` position one edge theieoi Will project into the path of the teeth of said Wheel, means for manually ad justing said stud, and a yieldable detent to retain the saine in adjusted positions.

l?. in a device of" the character described, a toothed Wheel, a lever socket mounted -for movement about the axis oit said Wheel, a cylindioal housing Cast integral with said socket and extending lengthwise thereof and tangenti-ally to said toothed Wheel, a pawl slidably mounted in said housing and having one end Wedge shaped and provided With teeth to engage said toothed Wheel, said pavvl being capable of a limited movement about a longitudinal axis, and means for holding said pawl in yielding engagement with said toothed Wheel.

In testimony whereof, We atlix our signatures hereto.

CHARLES WV. RIPSCH. JAMES C. DAWLEY. 

